USA > New York > Erie County > Buffalo > Manual, catalogue and history of the Lafayette St. Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N.Y. > Part 10
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Dr. Ichabod Spencer, of Brooklyn, N. Y., a former pastor of the lady who afterwards became my wife, preached the sermon; and though that fine eye, and those eloquent lips have long been sealed in death, I often recall the echo of his strong words, and see, again, the faces of the wrapped auditory. Dr. Asa T. Hopkins, of the First Church in this city, delivered the charge to the young pastor, and Rev. Mr. Beardsley, of Silver Creek, the charge to the people. Since the organization of the Church, up to last Sabbath's com- munion, the names of about fourteen hundred persons have been put upon its roll. About half of those who have united with the Church have done so on profession of faith, and half have been received on letters from sister Churches. The number who have taken letters of dismission is five hundred and thirty. The number constituting the present membership whose identity and present residence are cer- tain, is five hundred and twenty-one. About one hundred names (see page 77) beside, are still on our rolls, no records of their dis- mission being found, concerning whose history and whereabouts nothing is certainly known. This is, perhaps, not a larger number than would be counted among the "missing " of any regimental roll after a thirty years' service.
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Revivals.
I have alluded to the peculiar difficulties under which this Church enterprise was begun and carried on for many years. There was one supreme token, which more than all else, cheered and supported us under these discouragements, and that was the evident seal which the Divine Spirit set upon our prayers and labors as a Church, in the quickening of souls to a Christian life. If the Bible has given us the true characteristics of such seasons of divine refreshing and revival, there was often, I think I may reasonably say, clear yet quiet demon- stration of the presence of such a heavenly influence among us. Had it not been for such seasons, sought for and prized, and often graciously repeated among us, our history would certainly have been very differ- ent from what it has been, and I seriously doubt if our existence, as a Church, would have been continued to this time. The period of five years, from 1864 to 1869, was especially marked as a season of divine refreshing to us, during which over two hundred converts were added to our communion, as the fruits of revivals.
In all, eight distinct seasons of special divine refreshing have marked our history up to the present time, the most marked and fruitful of which were those of the years 1864, 1866, 1869. The yeårs 1853, 1856, 1873, and the present, 1876, are also marked by the same gracious tokens, though in a less degree. (See page 77.)
In all these years, we trust, Christians have been growing in grace and faith, and many, we humbly believe, have ripened for Heaven.
Beneficence.
In the special grace of Christian beneficence we trust this Church has also made some progress. Of silver and gold we have never had a great store, but we ought not to afflict our souls on that account, if we have only used wisely and liberally of what we have had. God gives' His children other and better things than material wealth- the wealth of His own love and grace to minister to others.
There is no perfect schedule of our contributions for purposes out- side the congregation. But an average, based upon the annual reports which have been preserved, would give us as I have already said, more than fifty thousand dollars as the sum total, for Evangel- ical and humane purposes, outside the congregation and its local work, raised by this congregation during its thirty-one years of exist- ence. A study of the table on the "Benevolent Contributions " of the congregation will, I think, bear out the statements above made.
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This table is to be found in (See I, General Index) this volume. In the year 1871, January 4, we adopted our present scheme of "Sab- bath Morning Offerings," as a part of our worship; and we believe this system to be, by far, the best adapted to call out and cultivate the true spirit of Christian liberality. (See page 15.)
Our Apostles.
It is with the sincerest gratitude to God, and with the tenderest and largest hope, that we refer to the company of eight young men who have gone out from among us to be preachers of the Gospel in our land.
On our twenty-fifth anniversary it was our privilege to welcome to this place six of these ministers, and to hear from their own lips earnest and eloquent words, expressive of their apprehensions of the glory and scope of that work, the ministry of the Gospel, to which they had given their lives. We ought, at that time, to have heard the voice of another, the Rev. W. M. Ingersoll, of the Second Baptist Church, of Washington City, who dated the beginning of his religious life in the precious revival of 1852, among us. Mr. Ingersoll, how- ever, having joined the Baptist Church, and carrying forward and completing his studies for the ministry in a Baptist University and Theological Seminary, it is scarcely a wonder that I lost sight of him. But I have sought and obtained of him a brief account of his min- istry; and we are proud to put his name among the other names of our apostolate. We are also permitted to add another name to this list which we prize so highly, and that is the name of Rev. David F. Stuart, so lately among us, now a graduate of the New York Union Theological Seminary; of whom, if life and health be spared, we expect to, and have the promise of, hearing a good report.
Under this head I have taken the liberty of printing (see A, of General Index) among our memoirs, brief synopsis of the services of this memorable twenty-fifth anniversary, with the reports of the speeches of the six ministers who were with us at that time, and letters from the other two which I have mentioned, remarking that five out of the eight date their religious life among us, while all, gratefully to us, acknowledge that their experience among us added impulse and energy to these purposes and aims to which they have given their lives.
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As we look over this chapter of our spiritual history, may we not say, with deep and humble gratitude, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us ? "
It is, perhaps, proper that, at this point, I should relieve this detail of local interest by a more general, though it must be very slight, survey of the Churches and Church organizations of the city when I commenced my ministry here, with some notices of their history, and, also, the more general history of Christian progress throughout the world during the thirty and one years of our existence as a congre- gation. This will compose
CHAPTER IV.
GENERAL SURVEY.
Baptists.
At the period alluded to (1845), Dr. Levi Tucker occupied the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of this city. He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. V. R. Hotchkiss, who, after a pastorate of - years, accepted a call to a Professorship in Rochester University. Then came our stirring brother, Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, and, after him, the brief pastorate of our gentle and gracious friend, Rev. D. H. Moore. Dr. Hotchkiss has now been recalled to his former pulpit, with the warm welcome not only of his own people, but of the many friends who know the value of his ministry, and appreciate his personal worth.
Another Church enterprise on the part of the Baptist denomina- tion commenced its existence about the same time with ours. It was called the Cottage Baptist Church, and built and occupied for a time the small edifice on the southeast corner opposite this Park, now occupied by the French Roman Catholic Congregation of St. Peters. After a few years the Baptists sold that edifice and migrated to Niag- ara Square, and built the edifice now in that locality. But the con- gregation did not become permanent ; a new and promising enterprise, of the same denomination, has now, however, sprung up, having reference to the same general locality-the Prospect Avenue Baptist Church. The large and growing congregation of the Cedar Street Church has, also, come into existence during the last half of my ministry here. The Baptist denomination has, also, been doing a
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noble mission and mission Sabbath school work in this city, which ought to be an example, and an impulse, to their brethren of other denominations.
. Methodists.
At the date of the commencement of my ministry here, the old Niagara street church, now the Jewish Temple Beth Zion, was yet the head-quarters of Methodism in this city. The vigorous congre- gation of Grace Church was then worshiping in its new but ·smaller edifice on the corner of Swan and Michigan streets. The Pearl street, now Asbury, Church, was not yet organized. The Delaware Avenue Church, so soon now to enter its beautiful edifice, was of still later date. The smaller enterprises on Elk and Eagle streets, as well as that at Riverside, together with the growing congregation of the Plymouth Church, have taken local habitation and form within the later years of my ministry.
We recall, among the ministry of these brethren, a hurried acquaintance with many a genial face; and bear with us the distinct impression that a line of earnest and faithful preachers has passed before us.
Episcopalians.
At the date of which I speak, among our Church friends Trinity was extant, under the care of its esteemed and excellent rector, Rev. Dr. Ingersoll, who has been succeeded by the earnest and genial ministry of the present rector, Rev. Dr. Van Bokelen. St. John's was in tabernacles, and St. James', Grace, St. Luke's, and Ascension, together with several other smaller Chapels and Missions, were not in existence. And as for our beautiful Cathedral of St. Paul's, whose esteemed rector, Dr. Shelton, is now in the fifth decade of his ministry here, it was yet in its chrysalis of blue clap-boards; for what need, then, of a Cathedral? Amid our proudest aspirations we did not dream that our young and rude town would ever grow to the dignity of an Episcopal See. I remember the city of my birth and boyhood when her jacket was homespun and her kirtle was linsey. As she grew more refined and womanly, her children clad her in silks, placed a crown upon her motherly forehead, and called her a queen-"The Queen City of the Lakes." And now, these gowned and surpliced men have come and put a mitre above the crown. Oh! mitred mother of more than a hundred thousand souls, mayest
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thou be as godly as thou art goodly; the patron of hundreds of Christian Churches, and the protectress of thousands of Christian homes !
Presbyterians.
Coming to the Churches of our own order, Rev. A. T. Hopkins, D. D., was in the old First, treasured in all our hearts, and cherished in all our memories. May years of still greater dignity and honor await, here, on the old familiar spot, and in the new and nobler structure which her people shall give her-a twin in beauty and grandeur to her neighbor of St. Paul's.
Dr. Hopkins' ministry was closed by his sudden and untimely death in the fall of 1849. After an interval, his pastorate was fol- lowed by that of Dr. Thompson, whose call to Cincinnati gave place to my excellent and honored brother, Rev. Walter Clarke, D. D., whose coming among us resulted in a most important service to our local history. The history of the Mother Presbyterian Church in this city was eloquently and elaborately set forth by him in a discourse on the fiftieth anniversary of its organization. If he had no other hold upon our abiding regards than is furnished by this most grateful work, he would long be cherished there. His reverent and tender words, rev- erent toward the dear old names, tender toward the sacred years and scenes of the long gone past, these will lend to his own memory some of the fragrance of those which he has thus preserved. The life of this venerable Church wakes now into new vigor under the earnest ministry of its young and energetic pastor.
The North Church was not yet organized, though its organization followed very soon after the beginning of our own Church enter- prises. Its first pastor was Rev. Charles Rich, whose pastorate was succeeded by the cultured and largely successful ministry of Rev. A. T. Chester, D. D., yet of this city. After him came the ripe and accomplished scholarship and earnest piety of Rev. Henry Smith, D. D., now of Lane Seminary; and then, the vigorous and successful ministry of our brother, the present pastor.
Westminster and Calvary, with their faithful and genial pastors, and the growing promise of their congregations, had, as yet, no place or home among us, and the enterprizes of the Wells Street Mission Church, the East side and the West side churches, are the promising growths of still later years. Dr. Lord's people had not then left their first small, oval-shaped but beautiful church edifice, for the great
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church they now occupy, which, from its grand proportions, may be fitly called our Presbyterian Cathedral. At the first, the congregation was known as "The Pearl Street Presbyterian Society; " about the time when it passed to its large edifice its name was changed to that of " The Central Church." And I cannot pass the mention of this long and honored ministry, which now, by reason of age, has closed among us, without expressing the fraternal and affectionate senti- ments which it yet inspires. Always in the fore-front of conflict, amid the smoke and confusion of the battle, our honored brother may, sometimes, have struck where he should have defended, and defended where he should have smitten: yet, when the lines were more clearly drawn, and the mistaken enemies of Christ and human- ity had thrown off their disguises, no blows fell stronger or rung louder upon the mailed front of treason and its twin outlaw, slavery, than his; and now, in the quiet evening of a busy day, he beholds the Church of his life-long ministry re-united after its disseverance, and the land he loves redeemed, regenerated and glorified. The opening and earnest ministry of Dr. Lord's successor has already been marked by special tokens of the divine favor and presence, and the future of that congregation is full of promise. It would be impossible to give, in this brief and cursory review, any detail of the growth or multiplication of church enterprises or edifices of other orders than those I have mentioned. Suffice it to say that the min- istry of every name and order in this city has now swelled to the number of nearly one hundred and twenty ; and may it not be hoped that by some means this large body may be drawn into a nearer acquaintance; that in the things wherein we may co-operate, not- withstanding all our differences, we may join hands for the general welfare of the community in which we live? Since the year at which our organization dates, the city has increased its population by nearly five times, mounting up from a census of thirty thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand; and the Churches of our own order have increased from four to nine; while our beautiful Park and its boulevards, our superb City Hall, and the improvements going forward on every hand, tell us that a new era has begun in the growth, prosperity and wealth of our Queen City.
During these momentous years, slavery has been swept from the land, and the union and integrity of the nation has been confirmed by the blood and treasure of a great war. Great States have been added to the Union, spreading westward to the Pacific Slope. Rail-
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ways stretch across the Continent, from ocean to ocean. The tele- graph has brought the most distant parts of the country into instan- taneous communication. The people are wakeful to guard our great institutions of popular education and of civil and religious liberty. The public conscience protests, with a vigor which cannot be resisted, against all political corruption. And to-day the nations are gathered at our great Exposition, to celebrate with us the progress of the Century.
Nay, the ends of the earth have been brought nearer together by steam and electricity. The gates of the nations have been opened to the entrance of the Gospel. Christian missions claim the larger regards of the statesman and scientist, while they are more and more engaging the higher energy and faith of the Church; and the women of Christendom are lending their zeal and devotion to the final and assured triumphs of the Gospel of the Son of God.
Let me now,
CHAPTER V,
OUR CHRISTIAN WORK,
Set forth, as I may, something of the nature and somewhat of the results of the Christian work in which this congregation has inter- ested itself during the years of its existence in this community.
Sabbath School and Mission Work.
The Sabbath School survived the wreck of the Church organ- ization which preceded us, and came floating toward us, as the ship's small boat often floats, after the great vessel has gone down. This home Sabbath School interest has always been a special one with not a few, of the most active members in the Church, as well as with the pastor; and though we do not claim to have discovered the secret of the highest efficiency and success, yet a genuine, and, we trust, Christ-like sympathy with the warm and loving heart of child- hood, has drawn all our hearts toward this work with an interest, which needed nothing factitious to nourish it. A very full memoir of our Sabbath School will be found in papersD. (See General Index), (prepared by the same pen to which we are so largely indebted throughout the volume), and in its history none can fail to mark its precious results in the conversion of the young.
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Mission and Mission School Work.
But our interest in the religious instruction of the young has not confined itself to the circle of our home school. It has manifested itself in efforts for the establishment of mission schools in different parts of the city and its vicinity. Near Limestone Hill, and on the Buffalo Plains, temporary schools were gathered. At Martin's Corners, under the direction of our beloved and honored brother, Elder Andrew Parker, whose memory is still tenderly cherished among us, such Mission Sabbath School labors were continued for a series of years, and precious results followed. At Cold Spring, also, though we have no right to claim that vigorous enterprise as the work of this Church; yet, it is but just to say that, among the most active and efficient promoters of that fine school, which has now a beautiful and commodious chapel, are to be found many of the mem- bers of this Church.
Our own Milnor Street Mission School has, I believe, in its time, presented as large and flourishing a record as that of any school of its kind in the city. Such enterprises are, of course, liable to some fluctuations ; but this school is full of interest to this hour. Its later history has been marked by precious tokens of the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the hopeful conversion of scores of the young men and women connected with its more advanced classes; and its whole existence is associated with the memory of one of our most active and efficient laborers-a man who dated his religious life among us, and who spent that life in devoted and useful service in the cause of Christ. I refer to the well-known and honored name of Elder Sam- uel D. Sikes. A full history of this school will be found in papers E. (See General Index.)
Prisons and Institutions of Mercy.
Early in the history of this Church, some of its older members had become specially interested in the case of the prisoner and the out- cast. Our proximity to the county jail served to present this work more clearly to us. It was the custom of some of our members to visit the jail regularly. Your pastor, when younger and stronger, used often to preach in the yard and corridors of the old stone jail which still stands near us. He discontinued his labors, there, not from lack of sympathy with, or hope for, the prisoner, but because it was impossible to care for two such important parishes ; yet, others of his brethren have more than supplied his lack of service. In this
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work our dear and honored brother, Elder Peter Gowans, now removed from active service by sickness, was largely engaged. The County Poor House for many years, and the County Penitentiary to this hour, have been the scene of most important and useful labors on the part of one or two or more of the brethren of this Church. And it is proper, and true to the facts of history, to state that through the labors and investigations of one, especially, of these brethren, Elder Edward Bristol, of this Church, the public mind was awak- ened to that interest which led to the institution of "The Home for the Friendless " (See F. of General Index), in which
Woman's Work,
No hearts or hands have been more active or useful than those of the Christian women of this Church. Fast upon the heels of this came the institution of its sister charity, "Ingleside Home." This institution, favored, under God, by the generous benefaction of a wealthy gentleman of this city, has had a history full of sacred inter- est; and from the very beginning it has received largely of the active and efficient aid and labors and prayers of the Christian women of this Church. (See F, General Index.)
I am glad, also, to know that in the "Orphan Asylum," the "Hos- pital," and in the other works of charity, patriotism and piety, which the years have called forth, the activity of the "faithful women " of this Church and congregation has not been inconsiderable or unap- preciated; while at times their efficiency and hopefulness have, under God, given success to merciful enterprises which, otherwise, would have failed.
The Ladies' Society.
It is also peculiarly appropriate to add, in making up the history of this church, that the society of ladies organized in this congrega- tion for congregational purposes, has contributed from time to time, large and generous sums to our congregational funds, and especially for the furnishing and decoration of our church and chapel.
In the later enterprise of the Christian Woman's Association, for the city (see F.), this Church is, perhaps, more largely represented than any other, among its active workers. And last of all, but not least, is the interest which our women have taken in "The Woman's Foreign Mission Work." Not only has our Church organization for this work taken a large and useful share in its contributions and increasing interest (see F.), but the organization and growth of the
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"Woman's Presbyterial Society for Foreign Missions" has been largely due to the wise, yet delicate, efficiency of one or more of the ladies of this Church. We mention all these things in no spirit of pride or vain boasting, but with thoughts of deep and humble grati- tude to God that He has given us hearts and hands for such labors as these.
Our Young People.
Another feature of our organization has been that the young men and young women of our Church and congregation have been, in God's good providence, largely interested in the Bible classes, and in the home and mission Sabbath School work of the Church. Our Bible Class for young people, forms in numbers a small congrega- tion, and its history is full of precious spiritual results, while our Adult Bible Class gains steadily in interest, and will, we believe, grow in numbers as the importance of Bible study is prized among us. "The Young Men's Association," organized, and so long effectively sustained in connection with this Church (see G, General Index), has enlisted, as no other agency could have done, many of our young men in Christian and mission work in the congregation and throughout the city, while it has cultivated acquaintance and good- fellowship among the congregation. No Church can grow old or idle under the inspiration of such energy-no Church to which God pre- serves this unwearied vigor of youth and strength, constantly renewed, like the eagle's.
" The Cordon of Temperance."
This organization, though of late origin, has had a history both brilliant and successful-none could be more so-enlisting the social, literary and esthetic elements in its work. It is yet faithful and successful in its great aim to keep before the minds of the young, especially, the insidious dangers and snares of the wine-cup. Its history will be found in papers G. It is a grave assertion of responsibility which is implied in that saying of the beloved Apostle, "I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong ; " and he might have added, I have written unto you, young women, because ye are beautiful; for, as there is a beauty in strength, so there is a strength in beauty. These, indeed, are words of honor ; but they are, also, words of obligation, and of condemnation, too, if the beauty of our strength, or the strength of our beauty, be wasted
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